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Thursday, December 10

Bamboo
edited
... The use of bamboo in construction has been dated as far back as the 3rd Century B.C., and has …

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The use of bamboo in construction has been dated as far back as the 3rd Century B.C., and has been referenced in writings from 960 A.D. As well as the largest, it is also the strongest growing grass, with the ability to support up to 52,000 pounds per square inch, making it just a bit more durable than mild steel and graphite. This obviously makes for great construction use, both for structures like bridges and scaffolding and for actual buildings themselves, though it is usually used for things like flooring, decking, panelling, and tiling. While, again, mostly associated with Asian cultures, bamboo is also used for construction in a number of places in the South Pacific, most notably in the Tiki culture, which is imitated, though certainly in a tacky way, today throughout the United States. Much like wood and timber, bamboo can be compressed to create arching and square shapes. This is achieved through processes similar to that of shaping wood, for example through the application of heat and pressure. Bamboo shoots can also be trained during growth to create certain arching shapes. To make planks, shoots are sliced thinly, boiled, and glued together with other thin strips. Bamboo is so strong a material, that when a house is constructed using only bamboo, it is apparently resistant to both earthquakes and cyclones.
Bamboo in Asian Art and Culture{4gents.jpg} The Four Gentlemen, not to be confused with the Three Stooges.
Aside from its practical uses, bamboo is an important cultural mark for several Asian countries, mostly in China, where it is considered a representation of longevity for obvious reasons. Bamboo is considered one of the "Four Noble Ones," which is a collection of four plants (orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum, and the plum blossom) that represent the seasons. The four plants are often used to represent Confucius's idea of junzi, or gentlemen, and when found in Chinese art, together, these plants represent "the four Gentlemen." The depiction of the Four Gentlemen in Chinese art dates as far back as the Song Dynasty (960-1279 A.D.)Some{bamboo_scene_house_of_flying-daggers.JPG} Also, because of its cool structure and pleasing visual quality, bamboo makes a great aesthetic addition to film, which it has here in Yimou Zhang's "House of the Flying Daggers" (2004)
Some Other Interesting Facts:Facts about Bamboo:
The bamboo goods industry is expected to be worth $25 billion by 2012.
The Chinese use bamboo for medicine because of its potassium and protein content.

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In Japan, bamboo forests are often grown around sacred shrine as a protection against "evil."
Bali, Indonesia, is home to an international primary school known as the "Green School," which is constructed entirely out of bamboo.(<www.mauiretreat.com/index.php?section=54>)
(<http://www.bambootech.org/tslink.asp?subsubid=71&subid=16&sname=MISSION&lid=229>)
(<http://jingtea.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/my-favourite-food-in-china-or-maybe-the-worldfresh-bamboo-shoots/>)References:
Wikipedia: (<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamboo>)
Maui Eco Retreat: (<www.mauiretreat.com/index.php?section=54>)
National Mission on Bamboo Applications: (<http://www.bambootech.org/tslink.asp?subsubid=71&subid=16&sname=MISSION&lid=229>)
Jing Blog: (<http://jingtea.wordpress.com/2009/04/06/my-favourite-food-in-china-or-maybe-the-worldfresh-bamboo-shoots/>)
Forward to Cotton
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Arkansas, California, Distribution of Cotton in the US Georgia, Louisiana,
Wild Card: Cotton and the Civil War
Cotton has played a vital role in American history. As cotton production evolved and expanded it became one of the world's most sought-after resources. France and England relied heavily on the cotton that was produced in the {http://www.hawaii.edu/armyrotc/images/courses/civilwar.jpg} The American Civil WarAmerican South. Three fourths of the cotton that was in England and France came from there, and about a tenth of England's revenue was in the cotton trading industry. During the Civil War the North put up an blockade in order to shut off all imports and exports to and from the South. This blockade played a major role in the North winning the war. The key to possible Southern victory was through foreign alliances with France and especially England. The Confederates were hoping that the need for cotton would draw Great Britain into the war and that the English wo {http://wigwags.files.wordpress.com/2007/12/englands-god-cotton-cropped.jpg} Cotton, England's Goduld break through the blockade to open the Southern ports. This was extremely important for the South because they had no revenue entering their "country" in order to pay for the war they were waging. To ensure that somerevenue entered the South, the Confederate Treasury obtained loans from England that was backed up with the promise of cotton. Cotton was made available for England for six pence a pound. This use of the cotton trade allowed the Confederacy to obtain almost $8 million to fund their war against the North. (King Cotton). Cotton has played a tremendous role in the history of America since then, and it continues to today. Without cotton there may not have been a Civil War. Farmers would not have needed slaves in order to produce such a fast money-making crop, and all would have been right in the world. Who knows where we would be now. However, we would be without some of our most needed textiles. Our tee shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters and underwear would all be made of something far less comfortable than cotton. And we would not be able to say, "We've got our Hanes on you."

Bamboo
edited
... {cut-bamboo-cane-200.jpg} The culm of the bamboo shoot, as seen here, is thick, durable, and c…

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{cut-bamboo-cane-200.jpg} The culm of the bamboo shoot, as seen here, is thick, durable, and can be used as a wood-like construction material.
Construction

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material, that when a house is constructed using only bamboo, it is

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resistant to earthboth earthquakes and cyclones.
Bamboo in Asian Art and Culture
Aside from its practical uses, bamboo is an important cultural mark for several Asian countries, mostly in China, where it is considered a representation of longevity for obvious reasons. Bamboo is considered one of the "Four Noble Ones," which is a collection of four plants (orchid, bamboo, chrysanthemum, and the plum blossom) that represent the seasons. The four plants are often used to represent Confucius's idea of junzi, or gentlemen, and when found in Chinese art, together, these plants represent "the four Gentlemen." The depiction of the Four Gentlemen in Chinese art dates as far back as the Song Dynasty (960-1279 A.D.)
Some Interesting Facts:
The bamboo goods industry is expected to be worth $25 billion by 2012.

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Thomas Edison successfully used a carbonized bamboo filament in his first experiments with the light bulb.
Bamboo survived the Hiroshima atomic blast closer to ground Zero than any other living thing and provided the first regreening after the Hiroshiman blast in 1945In Japan, bamboo forests are often grown around sacred shrine as a protection against "evil."
Bali, Indonesia, is home to an international primary school known as the "Green School," which is constructed entirely out of bamboo.
(<www.mauiretreat.com/index.php?section=54>)

Bamboo
edited
... {cut-bamboo-cane-200.jpg} The culm of the bamboo shoot, as seen here, is thick, durable, and c…

...

{cut-bamboo-cane-200.jpg} The culm of the bamboo shoot, as seen here, is thick, durable, and can be used as a wood-like construction material.
Construction

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arching shapes. To make planks, shoots are sliced thinly, boiled, and glued together with other thin strips. Bamboo is so strong a material, that it is apparently resistant to earth
Some Interesting Facts:
The bamboo goods industry is expected to be worth $25 billion by 2012.

...

Thomas Edison successfully used a carbonized bamboo filament in his first experiments with the light bulb.
Bamboo survived the Hiroshima atomic blast closer to ground Zero than any other living thing and provided the first regreening after the Hiroshiman blast in 1945Bali, Indonesia, is home to an international primary school known as the "Green School," which is constructed entirely out of bamboo.
(<www.mauiretreat.com/index.php?section=54>)
(<http://www.bambootech.org/tslink.asp?subsubid=71&subid=16&sname=MISSION&lid=229>)

Cinnamon
edited
... History of Cinnamon
Cinnamon's uses have documented throughout time dating back to even the A…

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History of Cinnamon
Cinnamon's uses have documented throughout time dating back to even the Ancient Egyptians in in 2000 BC. It is even mentioned in the Bible when Moses is instructed to use cinnamon for anointing in Proverbs. During the First Roman Empire the cinnamon trade was centered around the Mediterranean port of Alexandria. Built when Alexander the Great conquered Egypt, the port was central to the spice trade as it connected the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea (and the East). Arab merchants held a monopoly over the trade of spices, especially cinnamon, because of its exorbitantly high demand in the Mediterranean. These Arab merchants held the origin of these spices (Southeast Asia) secret in order so that their monopoly survived. Spices were an integral part of the Roman civilization in culinary purposes but also in luxury products. Perfumes, bath oils and lotions were of high price but were in high demand from the growing wealth of the Roman people. Later, during the global explorations of the Spanish and Portuguese, cinnamon was one of the most sought after spices.High Value throughout History
Cinnamon use can be traced back all the way to 2800 BC from Chinese writings. Ancient Egyptians used cinnamon for the embalming process, and it was a used for the preservation of meats. Cinnamon is a good preservative because of the phenols which inhibited the growth of bacteria, and cinnamon's natural aroma reduced the odor of old meat. A first century scholar, Pliny the Elder claimed that cinnamon was worth about fifteen times the value of a silver at equal weight. King Nero of Rome actually burned an entire years supply at his wife's funeral to symbolize his grief after he murdered her to as a punishment. Cinnamon was so valuable during the age of exploration and imperialism that countries would have wars over the control of spice islands in Southeast Asia. The profits from monopolizing a spice were numerous and brought a lot of revenue but increased the risk of an attack.
Cultivation and Uses
{http://www.lankalibrary.com/images/cinnammon.jpg}

Bamboo
edited
... {cut-bamboo-cane-200.jpg} The culm of the bamboo shoot, as seen here, is thick, durable, and c…

...

{cut-bamboo-cane-200.jpg} The culm of the bamboo shoot, as seen here, is thick, durable, and can be used as a wood-like construction material.
ConstructionAsThe use of bamboo in construction has been dated as far back as the 3rd Century B.C., and has been referenced in writings from 960 A.D. As well as

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United States.
Other Much like wood and timber, bamboo can be compressed to create arching and square shapes. This is achieved through processes similar to that of shaping wood, for example through the application of heat and pressure. Bamboo shoots can also be trained during growth to create certain arching shapes.
Some Interesting Facts:
The bamboo goods industry is expected to be worth $25 billion by 2012.
The Chinese use bamboo for medicine because of its potassium and protein content.

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